William armstrong



(NoMoal.) i W. ARMSTRONG.

TABLE.

Patented Oct. 9, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 390,938, dated October 9, 1888.

Application filed October 19, 1887. Serial No. 252.667.

To @ZZ wiz/0m, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tables, of which the following is a specification.

rlhe object of my said invention is to provide a knoclrdown7 center-table which can be easily and quickly taken apart when it is desired to pack the same for shipping or other purposes, thus permitting said table to be put into a very small space and handled with great convenience, as will be presently more fully described.

Referring' to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof', and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure l is a perspective View of a table embodying my said invention, one ofthe legs being detached to show the construction more clearly; Fig. 2, a vertical section through the parts to which lny invention particularly relates, on an enlarged scale, on the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. 3; Fig. 3, a cross-section on the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a detail View showing the edge of one of the legs with its part of the coupling and the other part ofthe coupling separate from the central post in po sition thereon, the parts being shown in eleva tion; Fig. 5, a view in elevation of the rear side of one part of the eoupling,similar to that shown in Fig. 4, except that one is formed for a "right-l1and and the other fora left-hand77 coupling; Fig. 6, a perspective View of one part of the coupling separately; Fig. 7, a central section through the same; Fig. 8, a perspective view of the other part of the coupling; Fig. 9, a perspective View illustrating a modified forin of the construction; Fig. 10, a erosssection illustrating still another modified construction on the dotted lines 10 10 in Figs. ll and 12; Fig. 1l, a vertical section of the same on the dotted line l1 l1 in Figs. 1() and and 12, and Fig. 12 a vertical section of the same on the dotted lines 12 l2 in Figs. 10 and 1l.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the legs of the table; B, a central post to which said legs are connected; C, a part secured in each of said legs and forming a portion of the means for coupling them to said central post, and D a part secured in each side (No model.)

edge of' each leg where it is joined to the cen- 6o tral post, provided with a stud, c, with ears c extending out at right angles therewith at its end, giving said stud a T-shaped form.

The part D is set into each of the faces of the central post, B, and is formed with a longitudinal slot adapted to receive the Tshaped stud of the part C. In its rear side are formed notchesV d on each side of said slot, with the upper shoulder on one side and the lower shoulder on the other side arranged to forni a stop or rest for the opposite ends of the head of the stud c. The inner faces ofthe ears forming the head of said stud are formed inclined,and the bottom of' each notch d is also formed inclined, so that when the two parts are put together and turned to position the faces are brought to bind tightly against each other and make a rigid connection. One leg of each paira pair being the two legs opposite each other-is coupled to the post with a right-hand coupling and the other with a left-hand coupling, as shown, (see Figs. 2, 4, and 5,) and thus the several parts are more securely locked and braced in position, and 'any liability of the parts becoming loosened when the table is rolled from place is obviated.

In Fig. 9 I show a modified construction, wherein the central post, B, extends up to the table-top, which it supports, and has feet A coupled to it in the manner described.

In Figs. 10, 11, and 12 I show another alternative form,which may be used when desired. In this each pair of legs is coupled together, the part C of the coupling being set into one leg and the part D into the other leg of each pair. One pair being thus coupled together, the other pair is secured in position byinserting the T-shaped stud d (which is formed of the necessary length) through a hole provided above the coupling of the iirst pair and connecting the same to the other leg on the opposite side, as will be readily understood by an examination of said gures of the drawings. The several parts of this table being con- IOO strueted as described, it is put together by turning the legs A at right angles with the post B and inserting` the T-shaped stud of the part D through the longitudinal slot in the part C, and then turning said leg back to a position parallel with said post B, thus tnrning the head of said stud cl into the notches formed in the rear side of the part C, their inclined faces serving to make a very tight and rigid joint and the shoulders of said notches serving to stop and hold the parts in the position desired. Each leg being thus coupled to the part A, the frame for the top is placed in position, where it is secured by pins or screws t0 the tops of' the legs in the well-known inanner. \Vhen it is desi red to take the table apart for packing or other purposes, the top is removed and the legs quickly and easily uncoupled from the central post by simply turning them to a position at right angles therewith and withdrawing,` the stud lfrom its connection with the part I), as will be readily understood.

Having thus fully described my said invention` what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The con1bination,in aknockdown centerA table, of the legs A, the central post, B, and a coupling device for each leg, composed of the interlocking parts G and D, one of which is secured in a leg,` and the other in one side of said central post, a portion of said legs being provided with right-hand and the others with a left-hand coupling, whereby said table is made rigid and secure, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a center-table, of a coupling device for securing the legs together, consisting of the'part C, formed with the T- shaped stud c, the inner surfaces of the head of which are inclined, and the part D, formed with the slot adapted to receive said stud,and a notch on each side ot' said slot with inclined surfaces adapted to interlock with the head ot' said stud, a shoulder of each notch being arranged to bear against opposite sides ol' the head of said T-shaped part and serve asa stop for the same, substantially as set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 13th day of October, A. D. 1887.

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG. [L. s]

XXfitnesses:

E. W1 BRADFORD,

hrtnnus L. TnUnnuR. 

